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Biographical entry Percival, Arthur (1879 - 1964)

Born

10 February 1879Dunedin, New Zealand

Died

27 January 1964Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Occupation

Surveyor

Summary

Arthur Percival worked for the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (1902-1909) where he produced the contour base map used in the design competition for the Federal capital. While there he was also employed to do the survey work necessary to lay out the city and dam sites on the Cotter and Queanbeyan rivers. He was Commonwealth surveyor-general and chief property officer in Canberra from1929-1944.

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Details

After arriving in Australia in 1897, Arthur Percival was engaged on mining surveys and engineering works in New South Wales and Queensland. In 1902 he joined the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works and during World War I he surveyed defence establishments in New South Wales and Victoria, carried out hydrographic work in Spencer Gulf, South Australia, and reported on land values for war service homes subdivisions. Next Percival was appointed Officer-in-charge of the property and survey branches of the Department of Home and Territories in Melbourne (1920-1929). This was followed by a post as Commonwealth surveyor-general and chief property officer in Canberra 1929-1944. After his retirement (1944?) he was retained as an adviser on land transfers for Garden Island naval facilities.

Events

1902 - 1909

Career position - Engineer with the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works

1920 - 1929

Career position - Officer-in-charge of the Property and Survey branches of the Department of Home and Territories in Melbourne

1927

Career position - Foundation member of the Canberra Artists' Society

1928 - 1929

Career position - President of the Victorian Institute of Surveyors

1929 - 1944

Career position - Commonwealth Surveyor-General and Chief Property Officer in Canberra

1930

Career position - Advisor to the Australian Survey Committee

1930 - 1934

Career position - President of the Canberra Artists' Society

1934

Career position - Advisor to the Australian Survey Committee

1936

Career position - Chairman of the Commonwealth Shipping Board

1939

Career position - Chair of a sub-committee of the inter-departmental committee on the aerial photographic survey of Australia